The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics
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1282
In Brief: Influenza Developments
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Med Lett Drugs Ther. 2008 Mar 24;50(1282):21-4
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 Select a term to see related articles  2008   flu   In brief   influenza   Influenza Developments   Issue 1282   March 24   oseltamivir   page 21   Tamiflu   Volume 51 

Recent reports (D Kaye.Clin Infect Dis April 1, 2008;46:iii) indicate that 2 of the 3 components of this year's influenza vaccine (Med Lett Drugs Ther 2007;49:81), the influenza B and A/H3N2 antigens, do not matchup well with circulating strains. The B component is probably not protective. The A/H3N2 antigen in the vaccine probably provides some protection, particularly for high-risk patients. The third component, the A/H1N1 antigen, is protective against circulating A/H1N1 influenza viruses, but these viruses, unlike previous A/H1N1 strains, are developing some resistance to oseltamivir (Tamiflu), particularly in Europe; in the US and Canada, about 5% of influenza A/H1N1 isolates are resistant to oseltamivir in vitro.

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